BSP Calls Off Protest After Reassurances of Dayanshankar’s Arrest

BSP has asked its workers to reach Lucknow to protest the remarks made by the BJP leader.

BSP protest against Dayashankar Singh in Lucknow’s Hazratganj area. (Photo: ANI)

Bahujam Samaj Party (BSP) workers called off their protest against former Uttar Pradesh BJP vice president Dayashankar Singh, in Lucknow, on Thursday afternoon after police vowed to arrest Singh in the next 36 hours.

BSP workers had started the agitation in the Hazratganj area of UP demanding the arrest of Dayashanakar Singh for making derogatory remarks against party supremo Mayawati on Thursday. The workers held a protest before the Ambedkar statue in Hazratganj area.

A police team was sent to Singh’s residence in Ballia on Wednesday night after he was expelled from the party, but was nowhere to be found, police said.

Sources say that Singh is in hiding somewhere in eastern UP.

BSP workers from different districts have been asked to reach the state capital to lodge a strong protest against the remarks made by the BJP leader, the party said. At least 500 to 1000 workers from each district started arriving the night before carrying placards and blocking traffic.

BSP workers gather to protest against Dayashankar Singh. (Photo: ANI)

BJP has already sacked vice president Singh from all party posts after his derogatory remarks against Mayawati, which sparked massive uproar and pushed the saffron party into a tight corner. An FIR was registered against the senior BJP leader for comparing BSP supremo Mayawati to a “prostitute.”

There was all-round condemnation of Singh for his remarks by MPs including Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, DMK’s Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Derek O’Brien, Congress’ Kumari Selja and Renuka Chowdhury, TK Rangarajan of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Satish Chandra Mishra of BSP. Demands were made for action against him.

BSP protesters gather in massive numbers in Lucknow’s Hazratganj against Dayashankar Singh. (Photo: ANI)

Tight security arrangements have been made in view of the demonstration and traffic has been diverted.

Police team raided the residence of Dayashankar Singh in Kesar Bagh Officers Colony of Lucknow on Thursday. Singh was not present in his quarters.

(With inputs from PTI)

Also Read: I Apologise to Mayawati for My ‘Prostitute’ Remark : Daya Shankar